Communicating health symptoms can feel challenging, especially in a foreign language. But clear, detailed descriptions help providers make accurate diagnoses and determine proper treatments. This guide covers simple techniques anyone can use to explain illness signs effectively using English.
Be Specific With Body Location
Pinpoint exactly where on your body the symptom manifests. Use terminology for anatomical areas like joints, organs, sides, regions. For example:
• “I feel pain in my lower back on the left side near my hip.”
• “I have a rash on my right forearm halfway between my elbow and wrist.”
Include Sensory Details
Describe what the symptom physically feels or looks like using texture, shape, color and other sensory descriptors. For example:
• “The rash is red, oval shaped, warm, and itchy with small fluid-filled bumps.”
• “I have a throbbing headache that feels like pulsing or pounding in a band around my forehead.”
Compare Intensity
Use comparison or analogy to communicate degrees of pain, discomfort or visibility. Is it mild like a cat scratch? Sharp like a knife? Faint like a whisper? Be creative with relatable comparisons. For example:
• “The cramping is severe like labor contractions.”
• “The shortness of breath is subtle like climbing one flight of stairs.”
• “My sore throat is raw as if I swallowed hot coffee.”
Share Onset and Duration
Provide crucial timing information like when the symptom started and frequency details illustrating patterns. For example:
• “The swelling in my ankle began yesterday afternoon after going for a run and hasn’t gone away.”
• “I wake up congested most mornings around 5 a.m. for the past two weeks.”
Use Charts or Diagrams
Visual tools depict complex concepts we struggle to explain verbally. Point out rash borders, pain origin points, swelling size and so on via drawing.
Compare To Your Normal
We each have an individual “normal” baseline. Explaining differences from your norm often highlights changes a provider should address. For example:
• “Normally, I can run 6 miles without breathing hard but now I get winded after 2.”
The clearer you communicate details, the better chance you receive appropriate care. Remove embarrassment and tell providers anything unusual happening in your body. Describing health issues can improve when armed with these simple strategies to add critical clarity.
